Counting blessings: Brian Sambola’s journey from heart attack to miraculous recovery
- Category: Cardiovascular Care, Heart & Vascular, Cardiology, Heart Care
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When Brian Sambola isn’t working, he loves spending time with his family, cooking up a storm in the kitchen, and simply enjoying life. After 26 years in the restaurant business, he knows the joy of bringing people together over a great meal. But beyond the food, it’s the simple moments—sharing jokes with friends and enjoying time with loved ones—that he holds most dear.
Six years ago, however, everything changed for Brian.
A Day that Changed Everything
On Tuesday, September 18, 2018, Brian woke up just like any other day. He felt perfectly fine and headed to work, eager to get through another routine day. Little did he know, the events of that morning would alter his life in ways he could never have imagined.
"Everything seemed normal," Brian recalls. "I went to work, said hello to everyone, and settled in for another day. Then, everything changed."
About 15 minutes after arriving at work, Brian collapsed. His coworkers found him convulsing on the floor. He stopped breathing, and without hesitation, his boss, Bob, a certified diving instructor, began performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Brian started to breathe again. But the danger was far from over.
By the time the ambulance medics arrived, Brian had gone into cardiac arrest once more, prompting paramedics to work quickly, resuscitating him with chest compressions before rushing him to Touro Emergency Room in New Orleans. Renowned for its expertise as a certified chest pain and primary stroke center, Touro has earned The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval for Chest Pain Certification, reflecting its commitment to delivering safe, high-quality care for patients like Brian.
Brian’s fight for survival
Upon arrival at Touro, the emergency room staff initially suspected a stroke. However, after a thorough evaluation, it was discovered that Brian’s left anterior descending artery—a crucial artery in the heart—had a 5 percent blockage. While such a small blockage wouldn’t typically be cause for concern, things took a dangerous turn when a plaque in Brian’s artery ruptured, triggering a series of complications that ultimately led to the formation of a large clot. This clot blocked the entire artery, resulting in one of the most dangerous types of heart attack known as the "widow maker."
A "widow maker" is a severe heart attack caused by a blockage in the left anterior descending (LAD) artery, which supplies blood to a large portion of the heart. This artery is vital for heart function, and when it becomes completely blocked, it can damage the heart muscle.
“A widow maker is known for its high mortality rate because it involves a critical blockage in a major coronary artery, often leading to massive damage to the heart muscle,” explained Frank Wilklow, MD, a cardiologist at Touro who treated Brian. “The blockage is typically so severe that it can cause the heart to stop beating, or overwhelm the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively, resulting in cardiac arrest. The survival rate can be very low without immediate intervention. However, survival chances improve dramatically with early recognition and rapid treatment. That’s why Brian’s survival and recovery is nothing short of extraordinary.”
Prompt Care Saved His Life
While receiving emergent care, Brian’s heart stopped again—he flatlined a third time. The Touro team resuscitated him once more, using a manual internal defibrillator to shock his heart back into rhythm.
"Brian’s situation was incredibly rare—he went into cardiac arrest multiple times, essentially dying and coming back," says Christopher Icamina, RN, Director of Emergency Services. "Thanks to the quick actions of his boss, the paramedics, and our emergency team, his heart and breathing were revived."
Once the blockage was identified, Brian was rushed to the cardiac catheterization lab, where Dr. Wilklow performed a procedure to clear the blockage in the artery and insert a stent. Within nine minutes, Brian's artery was open again.
But Brian wasn’t out of the woods yet.
To reduce the risk of brain damage and improve his chances of a full recovery, doctors initiated therapeutic hypothermia, lowering Brian's body temperature to below 90°F. This process slows the brain’s metabolic activity, protecting brain cells from oxygen deprivation and minimizing the risk of permanent damage. After 24 hours, they gradually warmed his body back to a normal temperature. To give his body additional time to heal, Brian was kept in a medically induced coma for another four days.
"I don’t remember much about the first week and a half in the hospital," Brian admits. "But when I woke up, I was moved to a regular room and started physical therapy. I was in the hospital for three weeks before I was able to go home."
A Crucial Turning Point: Physical Therapy and Regaining Confidence
Physical therapy became a turning point for Brian, playing a vital role not only in his physical recovery but also in helping him regain confidence in his body’s ability to function. The carefully designed exercises and movements focused on improving his cardiovascular health, rebuilding muscle strength, and preventing further complications, all while ensuring a safe and controlled recovery process.
“They worked with me on different exercises, took me outside to walk, and did memory exercises to test my brain function since they didn’t know how long my brain had been deprived of oxygen during the heart attack," Brian recalls. " When I left Touro, I continued with outpatient physical therapy."
The recovery wasn’t easy, but Brian made it through. He credits much of his survival to the 'stars aligning' that day—from his shift falling on a Tuesday to Bob being there and trained in CPR, to the emergency care team at Touro who sprang into action and took the necessary steps to save his life.
“It happened on the one day I worked a day shift, and Bob just happened to be there," Brian reflects. "If it had been any other day, or if it had occurred just 10 minutes earlier, I probably wouldn’t be here today. I truly believe everything aligned for a reason—it simply wasn’t my time yet."
Living Life to the Fullest: Embracing Every Moment
Now 48, Brian is healthier than ever. He has lost 30 pounds, adopted a healthier lifestyle, and stays committed to his heart health with regular follow-ups. He sees Dr. Wilklow once a year to ensure his heart is functioning properly and remains on blood thinners due to his history of blood clots. Since this life-altering event, he encourages everyone to prioritize their heart health and get regular check-ups.
"My heart attack definitely changed my life. It made me realize how precious life really is," says Brian. "It made me appreciate things more. And now, I live each day with more thankfulness."
As Brian looks back on his journey, he’s filled with gratitude—for the expert care he received at Touro, for the quick actions of his coworkers and paramedics, and for the love and support of his family. "I was very lucky," Brian says. "I’m thankful for everyone who helped me, and I’m just grateful to be here today."
Learn more about the Heart and Vascular Care Services at Touro here:
https://www.lcmchealth.org/touro/our-services/heart-vascular-care/about/heart-vascular-team/